★★★★ Alternative, Left-field rapper Kid Cudi returns to form with an ambitious new album, Passion, Pain & Demon Slayin’. At one time, Kid Cudi was “kind of a big deal.” In 2009, he captivated the world with odd-ball album, Man on the Moon: The End of Day. The album was driven by surprise, left-field hit, “Day ‘N’ Nite.” After his initial success, Cudi cooled off … Continue reading Highlights: Kid Cudi, Passion, Pain & Demon Slayin’
Thomas Rhett Totally ‘Kills It’ on Tangled Up – #Winning Thomas Rhett • Tangled Up • Valory • Release Date: September 25, 2015 “And this is the verse where you don’t know the words / and you don’t give a damn cause it feels good.” Right on Thomas Rhett – right on! On album number two ‘country’ artist Thomas Rhett at times seems like he’s … Continue reading Thomas Rhett, Tangled Up – Review
Snoop Dogg • Bush • Columbia • US Release Date: May 12, 2015 How does a legendary MC continue to keep it G in his early 40s? He reinvents himself or at least retools. Snoop Dogg does just that on Bush by embracing his soulful, funkier side, while easing up on his edgier, more explicit persona. Normally ridding of the f-bombs and misogynistic references might … Continue reading Review: Snoop Dogg Sounds Reinvigorated on ‘Bush’
Kendrick Lamar • To Pimp A Butterfly • Aftermath / Interscope • US Release Date: March 16, 2015 There are two reasons that can make an album tough to review: 1) it’s absolutely horrible or 2) it’s mind-bogglingly brilliant. In the case of Kendrick Lamar’s sophomore effort To Pimp A Butterfly, it is the latter. How in the world would Kendrick Lamar follow up the … Continue reading Review: ‘To Pimp A Butterfly’ Is Kendrick Lamar’s Second Consecutive Masterpiece
Taylor Swift slipped to #5 on the Billboard 200! Isn’t that fact enough to make you want to read these chart takeaways? It should BE! 1) Drake hit the big time for the fourth time in his career. Surprise album If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late debuts commandingly atop the Billboard 200. Was there any doubt? Nothing Was The Same also sees a bump … Continue reading 25 Chart Takeaways: Drake Scores Fourth Number One Album
You know who is still #1 on the Billboard 200 – yep, you got it – Taylor Swift. Some new albums do grace the top five and top ten, but none had enough impact to outpace Swift. That a more chart takeaways! 1) Taylor Swift is unstoppable at #1. Talk about ruling the charts in “Style.” 2) Now 53 debuts at #2, continuing a sensational … Continue reading 25 Chart Takeaways: ‘Now 53 Settles For No. 2’
Sunday night marks music’s grandest occasion – the Grammy Awards! While there are four big categories, none is more coveted than album of the year. Not only is it the most highly desired, it almost always ranks among the most questionable. Save for a few homeruns (OutKast’s Speakerboxxx/The Love Below and Adele’s 21), one could question the voting. Below are rationales for why each album … Continue reading Reasons Why Each 57th Grammy Nominee for Album of the Year Might Win
Ranking things is hard – understatement. So look, there were many sound R&B albums in 2014 – don’t let the abysmal sales dissuade you. That said, there were only a couple of truly great ones – led by one unopposed homerun – that sit atop the standings. Here are the 25 26 Best R&B albums of 2014…maybe. 1) D’Angelo and the Vanguard, Black Messiah There was … Continue reading Rankings: Best R&B Albums of 2014
D’Angelo and the Vanguard • Black Messiah • RCA • US Release Date: December 15, 2014 Arguably, an artist ‘out of the game’ for 14 long years has made the album to beat, right at the tail end of 2014. A comeback from one of neo-soul’s visionaries has long been rumored but to continual disappointments. Finally, D’Angelo has shocked the world by releasing his third … Continue reading D’Angelo’s Triumphant ‘Black Messiah’ Reenergizes R&B
The time has come for the unveiling of my favorite R&B album of 2014. But first, how about examining some of my favorite R&B albums over the past 10 years. In 2004, I graduated from high school and began college in the fall – I’m so old. Anyways, staying on script, here are some favorite R&B albums from 2004 to 2014. 2004: 2004 was a … Continue reading Favorite R&B Albums From 2004 – 2014
